**"So… what now?"**
After finishing his reading of the golden letters and grasping whatever his mind could comprehend,
Kalm sat down on the ground, waiting for something—anything—to happen.
This place felt like a dream, or perhaps a pocket within his subconscious.
But since he had already gained a **Core**,
Kalm was *almost* certain this place was what one might call the **Sea of the Soul**...
Or at least, that's what he'd decided to name it in his heart.
It was still just a hypothesis, one built on instinct—
and also on that strange projection of himself,
still resting within the Wall of Calm.
There *had* to be a purpose to entering his soul's sea in this manner...
Maybe to *discover* something about himself?
**"But like what, exactly…?"**
Kalm stood up, eyes focused on the manifestation in the wall.
He raised his hand and placed his palm on the cold, solid-yet-supple surface—
Right where the word *"Calm"* had been written.
Then he closed his eyes, as if focusing inward.
Inside his mind, he focused on the aspect of **The Maker**—
A trait crafted *specifically* for him.
If what was written about it was true,
Then Kalm would be able to see the **Threads of Fate** that formed nearly everything.
And since the wall before him was clearly no ordinary object,
Maybe—just maybe—he could understand something…
With that thought, the letters forming the word *Maker* began to glow before his mind's eye.
And within seconds—
Kalm could see them.
**Golden threads.**
They flowed together like a river that never ceased.
Their glow was brilliant, beautiful—
And dense, shining before his eyes in breathtaking patterns.
Kalm slowly opened his eyes,
Awe and fear reflected equally within them as he gazed forward.
His lips parted slightly,
And he whispered in a low voice:
**"This… is terrifying…"**
From his chest, a single delicate golden thread rose into the air—
A sketch upon the void.
It spun into a small loop and then streamed directly toward the **Wall of Shadow**.
The thread merged with the wall,
Right where the word *Calm* had appeared.
The word began to glow again, this time with golden light that lasted three seconds—
Then slowly faded away into dimness...
Until it vanished completely.
Kalm stepped back, hand withdrawing from the wall, still stunned by what he'd witnessed.
As he tried to gather his thoughts, the glow returned—
But this time, it was not golden.
It was a faint, **gray light**,
Emanating from the word *Calm* once more.
And then, right before his eyes, letters began to etch themselves into the air,
Glowing with a beautiful silver-gray hue.
Kalm's eyes widened slightly as he read the phrase:
> **\[Would you like to spend a Core to forge the Manifestation of Calm?]**
**"Wait a sec—
Did that… just *ask me a question*?"**
He shook his head several times at his own foolish thoughts,
Then turned his attention fully to the prompt.
His gaze moved from the glowing text back to the Wall of Calm—
Specifically, to the still, unmoving manifestation that lay dormant within it.
Then he looked again at the message from the World's Voice.
From his chest, the golden thread that had been born earlier remained—
Still connecting him to that projection.
Which meant…
Maybe they would share the same consciousness.
The same logic.
The same *mind*.
**"…No. That's unlikely. The wall says Calm,
And I'm nowhere near as calm as my name implies."**
But that wasn't the only strange part.
Kalm would have to *spend a Core*—
Something he didn't even know how he obtained—
Just to bring the manifestation into existence.
It wasn't a bad deal, really.
After all, he couldn't use the Core on anything else at the moment.
He placed a hand to his chin, eyes sharpening.
By nature, Kalm was an analyzer.
His mind could connect dozens of ideas and threads to reach something logical.
That was how he'd survived in the brutal outskirts, all alone—
Enduring the violence, cruelty, and cold indifference of its residents.
Unfortunately, though, he wasn't *actually* that smart.
Even though he could analyze situations,
His decisions still often got him into trouble.
And now—
He found himself facing *one* of those exact moments.
He analyzed everything.
And among the many things he realized,
There were *two fears* that weighed heavily on him:
**First:**
Would the manifestation be an *extension* of his own mind and soul?
Or would it be *completely separate*?
If it had its own awareness and its own will—
It could simply abandon him.
Live its own life.
Maybe even kill him to take his place.
That would be… horrifying.
**Second:**
Would his **curse** and **aspects** transfer to the manifestation or not?
Let's think about it logically—
Even if Kalm had control over it,
Even if they were essentially the *same person in two bodies*,
Sharing the same dream and ambition...
If the manifestation also suffered from Kalm's curse—
Then it would be completely useless.
Pointless to even create it.
Kalm scratched his head, his expression tightening.
He was now standing at the edge of a decision—
One that could define his entire life.
**"Should I take the risk…?"**
And just as he posed the question—
Something sparked in his mind.
A single memory lit up like a lamp in a dark room.
Back at the beginning of the trial,
He had been trapped within the body of that warrior.
He'd shared the man's awareness.
Felt his emotions.
His hopes.
His dreams…
He had been *so close* to being consumed by it.
Did that mean the **World's Voice** was trying to tell him something?
That maybe, even if the manifestation had a different personality—
It would still be **him**,
With a different kind of strength?
**"Hmm…
So be it.
It's not like I have anything to lose anyway."**
With that thought, Kalm lit the fire of resolve in his chest—
And cast a long look at the still figure in the wall.
**'Don't kill me… me.'**
Then turned to the message floating in the air.
He opened his mouth, and answered firmly:
**"I… I accept."**
As soon as Kalm gave his answer,
the white mist stirred—
as if delighted,
as if pleased by his decision,
as if cheering with joy...
And a second later,
the word *Calm* on the wall began to glow again—
a beautiful shade of **ashen gray**.
Several more seconds passed,
but the glow did not fade this time.
Instead—
the **eyes** of the manifestation came to life.
They were black and deep,
like a **pond of stillness** capable of swallowing any wave into its depths.
After its eyes flickered to life,
the manifestation slowly moved its fingers…
Then its toes…
Then slowly lifted its gaze to meet Kalm's.
Their eyes locked—
for several long seconds.
The moment was only broken when golden letters carved themselves into the air before Kalm's eyes:
> **\[I, the Other — 1/8]**
**'Wait… what does that mean?'**
Kalm glanced at the glowing phrase, then back at the manifestation—
Who had…
Who had…
**Who had stepped out of the wall.**
He now stood just two steps away.
His skin was pale,
his body slim and slightly short,
his hair long and black.
And worst of all—
he was completely **naked**.
The manifestation extended a hand toward Kalm,
and even before he could speak—
Kalm *already knew* what he was going to say.
He could **feel it**—
the link they shared.
The manifestation opened his mouth,
his tone calm and composed,
just like his eyes.
> **"Give me Kalystra's cloak."**
Kalm raised a brow in surprise.
The voice resembled his own—
but it was more balanced, more tranquil… almost unnervingly so.
He took off the cloak draped over his shoulders and handed it over.
*The Calm One* took it and wrapped it around himself.
Kalm was still in a daze—
his mind struggling to process the full weight of what his decision had unleashed.
The manifestation looked at him again.
> **"This is what the golden letters meant…
> Creating a manifestation… from myself."**
Kalm raised a hand to his head.
And in that moment—
he could *sense* what the manifestation was about to say.
He even felt the same **confusion and tension** pulsing inside him.
> **"Haaah… So we're…
> The same person, huh…"**
The manifestation turned his deep eyes toward the space around them—
the swirling mist,
the walls still hidden behind the veil...
> **"You're both right… and wrong,
> Soft One."**
Kalm winced at the nickname—
he clearly didn't appreciate being called that.
"We *are* the same person.
> But I'm also… a *part* of you.
> We're connected.
> We know everything about one another—
> Even down to shared sensations.
> But… we each have our *own* personality."
Kalm—the original—took a deep breath and sat back down on the ground.
"It's like creating another version of yourself inside your own mind— And then having a conversation with it.
Isn't that… terrifying?"
The Calm One folded his hands behind his back,
standing straight with perfect composure.
> **"It is, indeed…
> *Myself.*
> And now, *we*—not *I*—
> Are about to uncover how the Lost One overcame his curse."**